Commander, Platoon III
Field Operations, Operations Branch
Emergency Medical Services Division
S/Lt. Joseph J. Dudley, NRP, is a graduate of Salesianum High School and was appointed to New Castle County EMS in January of 1984 as an Ambulance Medical Technician. He was promoted to Ambulance Cardiac Technician in February the following year. After completing training at what was then the Medical Center of Delaware, Dudley was promoted to the position of paramedic in February of 1987. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1995, and to Senior Lieutenant in 2006.
During his time as a field paramedic, S/Lt. Dudley has received numerous letters of appreciation from citizens and other agencies to which he rendered assistance. He was actively involved in the background investigations and oral board interviews of new applicants. In 1994 he received a Commendation of Merit for his actions at a multi-casualty crash in Wilmington where he quickly assessed the situation, requested additional resources and assigned incoming ambulances and paramedics to smoothly manage a chaotic situation. In June of 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned to Platoon Four. In 1996 he received a Delaware House of Representatives Tribute for his actions at a multi-alarm fire at Beaver Brook apartments with several patients trapped. He also received a Departmental Distinguished Unit Citation for this same incident. In 1997 he received a Unit Letter of Commendation for his actions at a multiple victim shooting incident in the Amtrak yards in Wilmington. In 2002 he was the recipient of a Distinguished Unit Citation for his assistance at a motor vehicle collision involving 19 patients, most of who were critically injured. In 2006 he received a Commendation of Bravery for his actions at a lengthy industrial rescue in which the victim was entangled for 2 ½ hours. He has also received the Sons of the American Revolution EMS Award, and was one of the recipients of the Kiwanis Club of Wilmington Paramedics of the Year award for 2013.
S/Lt. Dudley holds an Associate Degree in Management of Emergency Services from Delaware Technical and Community College. He graduated from Wilmington University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He also received a Master of Science Degree in Management of Information Systems/Information Assurance from Wilmington University. S/Lt. Dudley is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership Academy sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police.
In addition to his regular duties S/Lt. Dudley has been an active member of the New Castle County Pipes and Drums.